Comments on: Squawkback: Is frugal living just a fad?

By: Wifeish Money

Wifeish Money — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:53:27 +0000

Many will be frugal until they are no longer afraid of the big bad recession or losing their jobs. Just like some people diet until they can fit into those jeans and then gain it back later. Frugal living is a way of life that one must commit to just like quitting smoking or getting in shape.

By: Carla | Green and Chic

Carla | Green and Chic — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:12:10 +0000

Though I had my moments, I was never really loose with my wallet, so for me, my habits are here to stay. For the rest of the world, I am not sure. Hopefully people will realize that they can have a rich and fulfilling life without overspending and going into debt, be it credit cards or mortgages.

By: Marj M.

Marj M. — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:13:36 +0000

Frugality will always live in me, always has, always will. If anyone remembers, after Jesus fed the 5,000 he had his disciples gather what was left. Frugality lived long, long ago.

By: Links From Around The Web – July 26, 2009 | MoneyAndWealth

Links From Around The Web – July 26, 2009 | MoneyAndWealth — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:03:50 +0000

[...] SquawkFox debates whether frugal living is just a fad. [...]

By: Weekly Round-Up: Cows, Pigs & Chickens, Oh My! — Almost Frugal- a frugal blog

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:05:29 +0000

[...] Squawkback: Is frugal living just a fad? @ Squawkfox [...]

By: CindyS

CindyS — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:15:28 +0000

If we look at the folks who lived through the Great Depression, many, many of them developed not only a frugal lifestyle but a habit of saving that followed them all of their lives. I think that the people who have been hit the hardest by the economy at this point will continue to live a frugal lifestyle. The folks who it did not affect as much will continue on spending away. For myself, I have always tended toward frugality.

By: Posts of the Week - Consumerism Commentary, personal finance since 2003

Posts of the Week - Consumerism Commentary, personal finance since 2003 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:02:24 +0000

[...] Is Frugal Living Just a Fad? The media has made much to-do over the idea that Americans are saving more and spending less due to the economic recession. Some out of necessity, but there is an implication that frugality is now more mainstream than it ever has been. I believe that’s an exaggeration. Perhaps we have been to the point where circumstances necessitate a change in consumerist behavior, but very few things in life are permanent. Entire generations have been identified by generalized adjectives such as “frugal;” current behavior is simply a reaction, not a permanent shift in behavior. [...]

By: marci

marci — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:37:57 +0000

I’ve always been tight with a penny so I don’t see that changing.

What we are seeing is maybe not so many people just turning to a frugal way of life because they want to, as people who cannot afford to live another way – necessity and no money.

Probably for those who are spending less out of necessity, there may be a resurgence of blowing money once the money is available again. For a few of them tho, they will ’see the light’ and how it benefits them, and then some will adopt frugalness just because they WANT to, and not because they HAVE to.

It’s not a fad, in that a fad would be more like spending money on something because it’s cool… or because it’s in… and frugalness by necessity is more of what is happening at the moment.

Those that were frugal long ago will continue to be frugal – it’s in our blood

By: Kelly from Almost Frugal

Kelly from Almost Frugal — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:34:49 +0000

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I think a lot of people are becoming frugal out of necessity- I know I did! As long as the factors exist that make people need to spend less, they will, and until there is a major, society wide shift in consciousness and behavior patterns, there is a big risk that people will go back to their consumerist ways as soon as they can.

By: SmilingLady

SmilingLady — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:51:42 +0000

Frugal living a fad? I’ve been living this way for 60 years! I’ve been flipping my swiffer sheets since the first time I used one, replaced them with other fabric cloths for a damp mop, though I’ve never tried washing them.

But I often hung paper towels up to dry for reuse, and don’t normally use them; I don’t normally use paper napkins, or paper plates, take navy showers, reuse, reduce and when possible recycle.

For some frugal living might be a fad; for others it’s a long term life style.